Flow valve and method

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the flow of a medium. The apparatus comprises a base having a plurality of arms extending from the base. The base and arms define a cage. A valve member is positioned within the cage. The apparatus further includes a biasing housing disposed within the base, and wherein a spring is disposed within the biasing housing. The apparatus further includes a passageway formed about the valve member when the valve member is opened so that the medium flows on the outer portion of the biasing housing, and wherein the flow of the medium in an opposite direction urges the ball into engagement with the valve seat. When the valve is open, the medium collapses the spring and the valve member blocks the flow of the medium from entering the biasing housing. A method of drilling a well with the flow valve positioned on a work string is also disclosed.

1. A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of a medium in a hydrocarbon well bore comprising:
 a pedestal; 
 a plurality of arms extending from the pedestal; 
 a seat housing abutting said plurality of arms, wherein said scat housing and said plurality of arms defines a cage, and wherein said seat housing includes a valve seat and wherein a flow path is defined thru said arms; 
 a ball member positioned within said cage and wherein said ball member is moveable within said cage; 
 a biasing means for biasing said ball member into a sealing engagement with said valve seat; 
 a biasing housing operatively associated with said biasing means; 
 wherein when said valve a apparatus is in an opened position the flow of a drilling fluid in a first direction retracts the biasing means so that flow of said drilling fluid proceeds through apparatus said valve apparatus with said biasing means disposed within said biasing housing preventing said biasing means from exposure to said drilling fluid, and wherein when said valve apparatus is in a closed position the flow of a hydrocarbon well reservoir fluid in a second direction causes said biasing means to bias the ball member into engagement with the valve seat. 
 
   
   
     2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing means is a spring. 
   
   
     3. The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a ball stop scat formed on said biasing housing; 
 a passageway formed about the ball member when the flow of said drilling fluid is in the first direction, and wherein said drilling fluid flows on an outer portion of the biasing housing. 
 
   
   
     4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a bleed off vent passage positioned within the seat housing for communicating a pressure upstream of the ball member with a pressure downstream of the ball. 
 
   
   
     5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said apparatus is attached to a work string, and wherein said work string is disposed within said hydrocarbon well bore. 
   
   
     6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the work string is connected to a bit means for drilling the hydrocarbon well bore. 
   
   
     7. A method for drilling a hydrocarbon well bore comprising:
 providing a work string within the hydrocarbon well bore, the work string having a bit; 
 providing a valve device within the work string, said valve device comprising: 
 a base having a plurality of arms extending from the base; a seat housing abutting said plurality of arms and wherein said seat housing and said plurality of arms defines a cage; a ball member positioned within said cage; a spring member for biasing said ball member into engagement with a valve seat; a cylindrical biasing housing disposed within said base, wherein the flow of a drilling fluid in a first direction compresses the spring member so that flow of said drilling fluid proceeds through the valve device with said spring member disposed within said biasing housing preventing said spring member from exposure to said drilling fluid; and wherein the flow of a hydrocarbon well reservoir fluid in a second direction causes said spring member to bias the ball member into engagement with the valve seat; 
 flowing said drilling fluid in the first direction through the work string, said flow of said drilling fluid in said first direction opens said valve device by causing said ball member to unseat from the valve seat so that a passageway is formed about the ball member and said spring member to collapse within said cylindrical biasing housing preventing said spring member from exposure to said drilling fluid; 
 directing said drilling fluid about the biasing housing; and 
 drilling the well bore with the bit. 
 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said hydrocarbon well reservoir fluid is a gas. the method further comprising:
 drilling through a subterranean reservoir containing hydrocarbons; 
 migrating said gas from the reservoir into the hydrocarbon well bore; 
 flowing the gas in the second direction, said flow of gas in said second direction closing said valve device by causing said spring member to bias said ball member into engagement said valve seat 
 terminating drilling with the bit. 
 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein said valve device further comprises a bleed off vent passage and the method further comprises communicating a pressure upstream of the ball member with the pressure downstream of the ball member. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 pumping a weighted fluid into an internal portion of the work string; 
 compressing the spring member; 
 disengaging the ball member from the valve seat; 
 pumping the weighted fluid through the bit and into the hydrocarbon well bore; 
 controlling the migration of the gas into the hydrocarbon well bore. 
 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 resuming the drilling with the bit. 
 
   
   
     12. A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of a medium in a hydrocarbon well bore comprising:
 a base having a plurality of arms extending from the base; 
 a seat housing abutting said plurality of arms, wherein said base and said plurality of arms defines a cage, and wherein said seat housing includes a valve seat arid wherein a flow path is defined through said cage; 
 a ball member positioned within said cage arid wherein said ball member is moveable within said cage; 
 a spring for biasing said ball member into engagement with said valve seat; 
 a cylindrical biasing housing disposed within said base, and wherein said spring is disposed within said cylindrical biasing housing when said spring is compressed; 
 a passageway formed about the valve apparatus when the flow of a drilling fluid is in a first direction, and wherein said drilling fluid flows on an outer portion of the cylindrical biasing housing; 
 wherein when said valve a apparatus is in a closed position the flow of a hydrocarbon well reservoir fluid in a second direction causes said spring to bias the ball member into engagement with the valve seat, and wherein when said valve apparatus is in an opened position the flow of said drilling fluid in the first direction compresses and disposes the spring within said cylindrical biasing housing so that flow of said drilling fluid proceeds through the apparatus with said ball member blocking the flow of said drilling fluid from entering the cylindrical biasing housing and flowing through said spring. 
 
   
   
     13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the seat housing contains a vent opening. 
   
   
     14. The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a spring guide having said spring disposed thereon; and
 a ball stop seat formed on said cylindrical biasing housing. 
 
   
   
     15. The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a bleed off vent passage positioned within the seat housing for communicating a pressure upstream of the ball member with a pressure downstream of the ball member. 
 
   
   
     16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said apparatus is located within a work sting within said hydrocarbon well bore. 
   
   
     17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said apparatus is located at the surface of a drilling rig and operatively associated with a Kelly. 
   
   
     18. A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of a medium in a hydrocarbon well comprising:
 a base having a plurality of arms extending from the base; 
 a seat housing abutting said plurality of arms, wherein said base and said plurality of arms defines a cage, and wherein said seat housing includes a valve seat; 
 a ball valve positioned within said cage; 
 a spring housing disposed within said base and attached to said plurality of arms; 
 a passageway formed about the ball valve when the flow of a drilling fluid is in a first direction, and wherein said drilling fluid flows through an inner bore of the seat housing; 
 a bleed off vent passage positioned within the seat housing for communicating a pressure upstream of the ball member with a pressure downstream of the ball member; 
 a spring for urging the ball valve into engagement with said valve seat; 
 a spring guide disposed within said spring, and wherein said spring and spring guide are partially disposed within said spring housing; 
 a cradle attached to said spring guide, said cradle having a concave surface engaging said ball member; 
 wherein when said valve apparatus is in a closed position the flow of a hydrocarbon well reservoir fluid in a second direction causes said spring to bias.